Shoe machine



A. R. MORRILL Jan. 9, 1940.

SHOE MACHINE Original Filed May 25, 1935 5 Sheets-$heet 1 3n ventor [127/ c attorneys Jan. 9 1-940. R. MQRRILL I I 2,186,592

SHOE MACHINE- Original Filed May 25, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet' 2 3nventor W7? gem/41M attorneys Jan. 9, 1940,.

A. R, MORRILL SHOE MACHINE Original Filed May 25, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z'mventor Gttornegs Jan. 9, 1940. 7

A. R. MORRILL.

SHOE MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed May 25, 1935 (Ittorneus Jan. 9, 1940. A. R. MORRILL 2,186,592

SHOE MACHINE Original Filed May 25, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet 5 ZZZ Ihwentor 7 www (Ittotnegs Patented Jan. 9, 1940 2,186,592 SHOE MACHINE,

Alfred E. ,Morrill, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Borough of Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Original application May- 25,}935, Serial No. v 23,462. Divided and this application April27,

19.38, SerialNo. 204,598

9 Claims. (01, 12-6) hereinafter described and, claimedwhich, to-

The present invention relates to shoe machines,

andis herein shown as embodied in a machine for' operating on shoes of the type in which the shoe is supported ona jack and in which the jackand the means for operating on the shoe are moved relatively to transfer the point of operation about the shoe, and to change the relative positions of the shoe and the operating means to'cause the shoe to be presented properly 7 m to the operating means as the point of operation is transferred about the shoe, all of the relative movements of the shoe and the operating means beingproduced and controlled by automatically acting mechanisms. While the several features of the present invention are particularly applicable to automatic shoe machines of the type above referred to, certain features of the invention are also capable of use inother types of automatic machines, or in machines in which the shoe is held in position by the operator. It is also to be understood that except as defined in the claims, the several features of the invention are not limited to any particular construction or arrangement'of parts. I v

The present application is a division'of application Serial"l lo.'23,462, filed May 25, 1935, to which reference may be had for constructions indicated in the drawings, or herein referred to without being specifically described."

the present invention have'been embodied is an automatic machine for sewing the welt'and upper The} machine in which the several features of v to the insole of a welted shoe, and as to the gen eral construction and mode of operation of its various parts is similar tothe automatic welt sewing machine disclosed in the applicants co-- pending application Serial No. 655,934, filed Feb ruary 9, 1933 for Shoe machines.

It is one object of the present invention to provide in a machine for operating on shoes, a

novel and improved lasting gripper to engage,

with and draw the upper firmly into position for a subsequent securing operation. It is a further object of the'present invention to produce an inseam shoe sewing and lasting machine having a simplified and improved construction and mode of operation of its various parts, and particularly of the lasting gripper which operates during a stitchforming cycle to engage the upper in proximity to the needle path and draw the'upper into position to be enteredv by the'needle. 7

With these objects in view, the several features of the present invention consist in the devices, combinations, and arrangement of parts-r gether with the advantages to be obtained thereby, will be readily understood by one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

.which Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of an automatic welt sewing and lasting machine embodying in a preferred form the several features ofthe-invention'; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in front elevation of a portion of the machine head illustrating particularly the several shoe sewing, guiding and lasting devices of the machine; Fig.

3 is. a view in right side elevation of substantially the parts shown in Fig.2, with the parts shown in stop position; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the lasting gripper mechanism, the parts being shown in, position instarting the operation on a new shoe, with the lasting gripper in engagement with the lip of the, insole and adjacent portion of the shoe'upper; Fig. 5is' a fragmentarydetail view illustrating a subsequent position of the, lasting gripper with the up er.

drawn firmly into position; Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the lasting gripper mechanism; and Fig.

tially the parts shown in Fig. 6.

, The'weltshoe sewing machine' for sewing the welt to the upper and insole of a shoe while supf ported on a last herein disclosed as embodying in a preferred'form the several features of the present invention, comprises a sewing vhead generally indicated at 50 within which the sewing and side lasting instrumentalities are housed, a shoe supporting jack comprising a toe support 52'and a heel support 54 pivotally secured thereto, a .supporting base 58 within which is housed the supportingand actuating mechanisms for imparting the required feeding, turning and tipping movementsto the jack, and a driving and stopping unit for the-machine which is housed in a casing 58' on .the base adjacent to the sewing head 50.

As has been stated, the general construction and mode ofoperation of the various parts of aljlfl'times in the proper position with relation to the sewing instrumentalities.

"As in the machine of the application above re- 7 is a detail viewin front elevation of substanl ments are imparted to these devices for operating on the shoe from a sewing cam shaft 16 which is mounted to rotate on a horizontal axis in bearings in the sewing head 58, and is provided at one end with a spiral gear 18 arranged to mesh with a corresponding spiral gear 86 which is formed integrally with a clutch sleeve 82 loosely mounted to turn on a vertical drive shaft 84 of the machine.

The shaft 84 is continuously driven through re-. duction gearing from an electric motor mounted in the upper end of the casing 58. 3 The control mechanism for imparting positioning and feeding movements to the jack are arranged to impart a continuous feeding movement to the shoe past the stitch forming devices. To assist in the feeding of the work, the needle is mounted to reciprocate with the work in the line of feed. With the present construction, the needle E0 is mounted on a support or frame 86 which extends'rearwardly of the machine, and is sleeved to turn on a vertical pivot shaft 88. A rearwardly extending arm 96 formed on the hub of the support 86 carries a cam roll 92 which is arranged to engage in a peripheral cam groove in the cam disk 94 on the sewingshaft 16, so that a reciprocatory movement is imparted to the support and theneedle mounted thereon in the line of feed in timed relation to the sewing cycle.

The machine herein disclosed is provided with a novel and improved side lasting gripper which acts along the sides of the shoe as in the applicants pending application above referredto, to pull in and position the side portions of the upper with relation to the welt and insole in advance of the sewing operation. The operation of the gripper is automatically controlled as the sewing operation progresses around the shoe to cause the gripper to operate intermittently and progressively along the side of the shoe in time with the stitch forming devices, to cease operating as the sewing proceeds about the toe which has preferably been previously molded, and finally to resume operation again as the sewing is continued along the other side of the shoe. In accordance with certain features of the present invention,

, this lasting gripper is constructed and arranged to insure the engagement of the gripper with a comparatively short or closely trimmed upper, and has a novel and improved operation with relation to the sewing and feeding devices of the machine to permit a more compact and efficient arrangement of the several cooperating mechanisms for lasting the upper and for stitching the welt to the assembled insole and upper of the shoe.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the gripper is located adjacent to and immediately in advance of the needle in the line of feed, being supported against movement in the line of feed upon a stationary support. The jaw 12 comprising one of the cooperating members of the gripper, is rigidly formed on the offset lower end of a slide I mounted for vertical movements in a guideway !82 formed on the supporting bracket for the channel guide 68. The cooperating jaw 14 of the gripper is pivotally mounted ona stud I84 on the offset portion of the slide I80 to move vertically with the jaw 12 toward and away from the work as a single unit.

The gripper unit mounted in this manner for movements only in a plane normal to the line of feed has the advantage that it can be located in close proximity to the point of operation of the needle about which the shoe is turned as the stitching operation progresses around the shoe sole without interference with other parts of the a machine, and more particularly the welt guide.

It has been found that the continued feed of the shoe during the relatively brief updraw movement of the gripper unit to pull in the upper serves to assist in positioning the upper tightly and accurately in position for the subsequent formation of a new stitch without at the same time seriously affecting the fit of the upper over the last. As has been stated, the feeding movement whichis imparted to the Work is continuous. As a consequence the movement of the work in the line of feed, while the lasting gripper is graspingthe upper, is comparatively small, being only a portion of the entire movement during a stitch forming cycle, and is not sufficient to wrinkle the upper or interfere with the proper operation of the gripper, although no movement in the line of feed is imparted to the gripper during its upper drawing movement. Due to the continuous feeding movement of the work also, and particularly to the fact that the feeding movement is produced by the movement of the jack, a uniform spacing of the stitches is secured and irregularities or uncertainty in the operation of the work feeding and stitch forming devices by reason of the upper lasting operation is avoided.

In order to insure the engagement and drawing-in of a short or closely trimmed upper, a feature of the present invention consists in the provision, of a gripper unitof novel and improved construction having a mode of operation which enables the gripper to engagewith and exerta drawing-in action on the upper at apoint much closer to the shoe sole than has heretofore been considered possible without interference with the associated parts of the shoe and last. To this end the jaw 12 of the gripper is constructed and arranged to move downwardly against the, shoe sole inside of the channel lip, and is provided with a smooth grippingsurface adapted for gripping engagement against the inside face of the upturned channel lip of the insole at the base thereof. The cooperating jaw 14 is provided with a roughened or corrugated gripping surface which is arranged to be brought into gripping engagement with the outer surface of the upper overlying the edge of the shoe inner sole and channel lip. In the operation of this mechanism, the jaws are moved downwardly in open position, and are then permitted to draw together under the pressure of their spring, so that the inner jaw i2 is yieldingly pressed against the channel lip, and the cooperating corrugated gripping surface of the outer jaw engages firmly against the outer portion of the upper which is supported during the subsequent up-draw movement of the gripper, first against the edge of the inner sole and channel lip, and finally against the smooth surface of the gripper jaw 72 as the jaw 72 rides out of engagement with the channel lip during the continued up-draw movement of the gripper unit.

Vertical movements are imparted to the slide 586 to move the gripper toward and away from the work by means of a camlever I88 supported on a pivot shaft I96] and a lever arm 192 conis obtained.

I the pressure of the spring .286. During the opscribed, which lever arm is provided at its for- 1853. The cam lever 088 carries a carn'roll I 98 which engages in a groove- 2B3 formed in v one tace-ofthe cam disks l to impart a single re-v ciprocatory movement tothe cam lever for each revolution of the cam shaft Z75. '-'-A broken connection is provided between the' cam lever I88;

and actuating lever 92, so. that a yieldingdOWh ward "movement and 'a' positiveupdraw is im,:

parted to the gripper during each cycle of operationsoi" the machine. The upwardmcv-ement of the actuatinglever 92 is caused by the en gagement of an abutment 292 on 'thesleeve hub of the lever E92 with a corresponding abutmentdii t on the sleeve-hub of thecam ever 588. Theactua'ting level" M32 is moved down wardly as the roll 'l98 rides ontoithehigh portion of its "earn groove fiilll under the influence of a cornpressionspring 2G6 seated in'1'ecess es2i8 and 2jliiin the sleeve hubs of the actuating lever it? and cam lever !38 respectively,

The jawf id is moved positively into open position oryiel'dingiy into closed or gripping relationship to the jaw 72 through connections which include a" cam. lever 2l2-loosely mounted to turn on theshaft we, and provided at its rear end with a roll 2M arranged to engage in a1 camv groove 256 in. one face or" the cam disk 3i. At

its forward end the cam lever M2 is provided with a pivot block 2&8 journalled to receive the upper end'of a link 228 which is pivotally con nected at. its lower end to a laterally extending portion of the gripper jaw it. Looking nuts 222 screw-threaded to the link 22B, are arranged to engage with the upper side of the pivot block 2 I 8,

sothat a positive upward movement is imparted to the link 22' by the operation of the cam lever 212 to spread or open the jaws ofthe gripper. A

compression spring 224 surrounding the link 220 betweenthe; under side of the pivot block-118- 'and' locking nuts 226 on the line 226, acts to impart a yielding downward movement tothe linkZZEi and thecam leverZlZ, so that a yielding gripping action of the jaw'sof the gripper To enable the gripper-to-be thrownout of action, a detent lever .22] is provided pivoted at' 228 on themachine frame andnormally held eration of the lasting gripper the detent lever 22? is held out of engagement with .theabutmen't 282 by the engagement of a vertically movable control rod 235 with the tail of the detent lever In the performance of the sewing and side lasting operations around the shoe sole, the side lasting grippers commence operating when the machine is thrown into op'erationfrom the startposition at the shank, are thrown out during the sewing operation around the toe, and are ating connections and a cam on the pattern cam shaft of the machine not here illustrated, inasmuch as these parts are identical with those fully describedand illustrated in the applicants co -pending application Serial No. 655.,934',"above referred to..

The invention having been described, what is claimed is;

1; In a machinefor operating upon shoes, the

combination withguiding dvicesforthe assembledinsoleandupper of a shoe supported on a f last, of means-for attaching the upper to the insole, aglastinggripper comprising cooperating Saws, oneofsaid jaws being arranged to slide .,tr'arlsversely of the rib of the insole while in en'- gage'ment therewith at the limit of the downand for moving both jaws away from the work tension the upper. 1 i

2. In a machine for operating' upon. shoes, the Y combination with guiding devices for the asse'm bled insole and upper ofa shoe supported on a last, -'-:of means-for attaching the upper to the insole, a; lasting gripper comprising fcoop'erating jav ,'-'one of said jaws havingasmooth-engaging surface arranged to slide transversely of the rib of the insole while in engagement therewith at the limit of the downwardfmovement of the gripper, and the other of said jaws" having a roughenedengaging'surface arranged for gripping en- Igag'ement with the adjacent outer surface of the shoe upp r and means, for actuating the jaws to grip the, upper and for moving both jaws away from the-work totension the upper.

3: In a machineioroperating upon shoes, the

combination with guiding devices for the assem-- bled insole and upper of a shoe supported on a last ofymeans for attaching'theupper to the. insole a lasting gripper comprising cooperating"- *yieldingly actuated jaws, oneof said jaws being arranged to slide transversely of the rib of the insole while in engagement therewith at the lim it of the downward movement of thegripper, and

:theother. of said jaws being arranged. for gripping engagement with the adjacent portion of the, shoe upper, and means for imparting a yieldin gripping action to said jaws and for moving both jaws away from the Work to. tension the upper. I

' 4. Ina machinefor operatingupon shoes, the combination with guiding devices for the assembled insole and u'pperof'asho-e supported on a last, oi meansfor attaching the upper to the insole, a lasting gripper comprising cooperating yi-eldingly actuated-jaws, one oisaid jaws having a smooth engaging surface arranged to slide transverselyof the rib of the insole while in'engagement therewith at the. limit of the downward movementof the gripper, and the other of said jaws having a roughened engaging surface arranged for-gripping engagement with the adjacent outer surface of the shoe upper, and means for imparting av yielding gripping action to said jaws and for moving both jaws away from the work toj'tension the upper.

5. Ina machine for operating upon shoes, the

combination of meansfor attaching the upper to the insole, ashoe supporting} jack, means for moving the jack and shoe supported thereon relatively to the attaching means to transfer the point ofoperation aboutv theshoe, a stationary channel guide, and a lasting gripper mounted on said channel guideto operate transversely of the line of feed adjacent the point of operation of the attaching means to engagewith and. positionthe point of operation of the stitch forming devices to engage with and position successive portions of the upper for the operation of said stitch forming devices.

7. A sewing and lasting machine for attaching the upper and insole of a shoe assembled on a last having, in combination, stitch forming and work feeding devices including a shoe supporting jack, a lasting gripper supported against movement in the line of feed and arranged to operate transversely of' the line of feed adjacent the point of operation of the stitch forming devices to engage with and position successive portions of the upper for the operation of'said stitch forming devices, and means for actuating the jack to feed thework during the engagement of the lasting gripper with the upper,

H 8. A sewing and lasting machine for attaching the upper and insole of a shoe assembled on a last having, in combination, stitch forming and work feeding devices, means including a shoe supporting jack for imparting a (fontinuous feeding movement to the work, and a lasting gripper supported against movement in the line of feed and arranged to operate transversely of the line of feed adjacent the .point of operation of the stitch forming devices to engage with and position successive portions of the upper for the operation of said stitch. forming devices.

9. A sewing and lasting machine for attaching the upper and insole of a shoe assembled on a last having, in combination, stitch forming and work feeding devices, a lasting gripper supported against movement in the line of feed and arranged to operate transversely of the line of feed adjacent the point of operation of the stitch forming devices, and means for actuating the lasting gripper to engage with and position successive portions of the upper during the feeding movement of the work for the operation of said stitch forming devices. I

' ALFRED R. MORRILL. 

